How Phil Kessel Hotdogged His Way to a Hall of Fame Career 

Hard to hate on Kessel if we are being truly honest

He’s such a legend and so unusual (in a funny way) that ppl actually forget how good he’s been especially in big moments. 83 pts in 100 playoff games, including 22pts in 24gp when he won the cup in 2016, and 23pts in 25gp when he won the cup in 2017, in around 17 min of ice time. Very impressive

Phil is a gem. Loved every second he was on the Pens. This dude was a solid contributor to the two cups and one of my favorite players. Gotta love a dude who just looks like someone’s dad who can play as well as him

As a Leafs fan, I love Phil the Thrill no matter what. Hate how my Leafs went full Leafs and ran him into the ground. Least he got three rings with the Pens and VGK.

my favourite clip of the phil is when he walks out into phanuefs interview with a cookie in hand and dion just lays into him lmfao.. "phil were gonna need to get you on the exercise bike with all these cookies ur eating bud". phil just brushes him off like "wtf is this idiot on about now.." and takes another bite of his tasty cookie. what a legend.

I've got my Phil Kessel Arizona Coyotes jersey framed and hung up on my wall, as a native Wisconsinite who was born 20 minutes outside Madison WI I've always loved Phil The Thrill

Apparently, he’s a monster at the gym so he’s done something else than just eating hot dogs… I forgot which Vegas player it was who told the story about their laughing at his lack of exercise. He then totally destroyed them in the leg press before sauntering on to another hot dog. 😂

Loved him in Toronto. Glad he got some cup rings. Was pure class with the Leafs. One of the few Leafs players jerseys I own.

Pens fan here and we loved when Phil was a Penguin!

I never get tired of seeing that Kessel snipe from the Right Wing!! Simply poetry in motion!

Phil is always welcome in Pittsburgh and can have as many hot dogs as he wants.

Great video! Kessel is a great guy, wish he had more playing time last year in the playoffs.

Absolutely loved watching him play for the pens. H B K line was amazing!

That iron man streak is so impressive!

Phil “The Thrill” is one of my favorite ex-Bruins - I just love the guy. Great vid!

I loved every second of Phill Kessel when he was with the Pens! Get that man a hotdog!!!

Phill the Thrill!!!! What an animal. The story of him yelling at and making fun of James Neal while single leg squatting well over 300lbs is gold.

Phil is absolutely loved in Pittsburgh. Phil the Thrill!

Great video man, kessel is an absolute legend of the game

Kessel, absolute beauty! Great video on his ironman career.

I honestly thought there would be more discussions around his love for hot dogs. For example: Does his superstar status cut down on his appearances at the local Costco food court?

As Peter Griffin says "Dere's juice in hotdogs"

I realy love this guy, he dont care what other think about him , he goes his own way.

Phil and Ochocinco have me rethinking my nutrition plan. Maybe hotdogs and McDonald's are the secret to ultimate performance.

Phil is an absolute gem.

Great job on producing this content.

Because of PHIL… What a beauty

Like in Toronto, Phil was scapegoated in Pittsburgh. The claim is that he was traded to "send a message" to the locker room, but the reality is that Sid didn't want him on his line, Geno didn't want him on his line, and Phil wouldn't play the defense necessary from a member of the 3rd line - infuriating Sullivan - who was so frustrated with Phil that assistant coach Rick Tocchet earned the nickname, "The Kessel Whisperer," because he was the coach who could "get through to Phil."

Great video man! I've just discovered your channel and I like your vids. I just want to let you know that when you stats about points per season etc, it would be nice if you can put it on the screen as well. It's gonna be easier and more pleasant to watch. Anyway you gained a sub!

we love him because hes a beer leaguer that made his way to one of the top names in the show, fucking love that man. wanna have a hotdog with him one day

Phil the thrill, what a legend

I love Phil Kessel, from a Toronto fan.

As a Toronto fan, I hate Toronto hockey media, they did Phil dirty. He’s a beauty for sure.

Phil the thrill! You can't hate this guy.

A beautiful skater with one of the most lethal releases in the history of the game. When he was buzzing he was a joy to watch. He belongs in the hall of very good but he definitely isn't a hall of famer in my books.

Phil the Thrill, Penguins legend

Phil is a Legend.

Awesome Video

I LOVE Phil Kessel!

Gretzky said he drank a coke before every game too, hard to dump on Kessel's diet when the greatest of all time did it too

Even Joey Chestnut uses water whilst housing glizzies, Phil's a beast!

Great video

"Let the game do the talking" -Phil Kessel

I need a Kessel Pens jersey asap. Would love to see him play a season in MN before he retires

Remember kids Kessel only uses a 65 flex stick.

What a legend.

People were just so mad that a man could pound hot dogs snd soda but still skate like the wind. The Toronto Media blamed him for everything, yet he was easily the biggest factor every night

I started watching hockey as soon as Phil was starting on the Bruins and I was in that market, been a fan ever since, the guy is sick, terrible diet not in great shape and still just naturally skilled guys a legend

The true Great Ate!

Phil Kessel is the man of the smart people!

well here's what i remember about kessel the leaf: he struck me as the kind of guy who would get the fourth goal during a 5-1 victory. but never the guy who got the third goal in a 3-2 win. that said, if a team can't motivate a guy with a knack for putting the puck in the net to do so when it matters, the blame ought to be shared.

I wonder if Boston would still be lamenting 2013 and 2019 if they kept Kessel

As much as I chirped him for that mugshot, he was talented.

Phil is a true beauty

im proud to be from the same city as this guy

LEGEND 🇺🇸🗽🦅

Loved Phil when we he was with the Pens and we treated him like family here

The vessel Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel is the Real Life JJ Frankie JJ.

Love Phil Kessel was sad to see him leave the leafs 😊

New fan to hockey just a curious question what’s the difference in goals and points? One would think they are the same but clearly they aren’t. 😅

If he didn't play with a guy named Sidney Crosby, he probably would have won the Conn Smyth

There's always some fans who need a scapegoat. Justin Holl may not be the greatest defenseman ever but played the hardest minutes on the team, led the pk, and 20+ min a night the majority of it started in the defensive zone. Fans attacked him constantly, yet now that they got what they want the leafs defense is worse, their pk is bad and they are back to outscoring their problems. Isn't it great Holl is gone?

I love a negative narrative was built up against Kessel and then he absolutely owned the moment in the Pens two cup runs and rode that to having a special career. He just made the doubters look foolish.

Chicago and bedard need him now more than ever, fr tho Phil is like th John daly of hockey

awesome video

Love Phil. I was so happy when Pitt got him. He was such a good addition and it showed that he obviously wasn't solely responsible for the leafs being a crap team. And then won back to back cups. Couldn't write a script better than that.

phil blessed boy

Hated him when he first came to Toronto but definitely learned to like him.

dude has a wicked snap shot

My fav American born player all time!

also he looks like he never works out but he demolishes his teammates in fitness testing

Way to go Kessel, he's not the prettiest or one of the smarter players out there, but I remember a reporter busting his balls about the then Captain of Toronto Leafs. He responded with "you guys blame him way too much. We win as a team and lose as a team. Disgusting what you guys write and say about him." That will be my respect golden moment with guy. Cheers man, congratulations on the 1000 consecutive games played. 🤘

Theres definitely something to not being injured hardly and also not eating only on a strict diet. Chad ocho been telling us for years 🤷🏿‍♂️

Hockey Ironman more impressive than baseball Ironman Cal Ripken.

Tell me his dad is smoking a dart in his card pic. The whole family are legends.

Nobody ever said he would never be a winner. Just by playing in Toronto made it hard for him to be a winner.

For context: the Hot Dog story started with Toronto Star "journalist" Steve Simmons. During Kessel's last year in Toronto he apparently saw Kessel at a hot dog stand The same year there was articles about his weight and videos of him being exhausted on the exercise bike

Phil the thrill!

“Good one Randy”

Leads legand!!

bruh that thumbnail💀🤑

In his last year with the Leafs it looked like Phil was wearing a flak jacket under his sweater!

Honestly surprised nobody picked him up. He had just under 40 points last season on a $1.5 million contract. That's worth it. On top of that I'm sure he would be willing to go down to $1million. Especially if it meant him hitting 1000 points.

I wonder where he is going to sign next? A Toronto reunion (I know, I'm dreaming 😢)

the GOAT

FYI your highlight of Phil playing for the Gophers needs some explanation. All of the WI faithful were PISSED when their hometown kid decided to go to Minnesota instead of staying in his home state. The first game the Gophs played WI at home, he was booed very loudly every time he touched the puck. That is, until he scored and then he taunted the WI fans by holding his glove up to his ear. Here's what the Minnesota local call sounded like: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HYMTMqei5AY.html

All BS aside the guy was a clutch player and did what is harder than anything else in hockey (score goals) especially a clutch one better than 98% of the guys in the league his career was remarkable and he is probably underrated. Don’t let all the silly talk fool you the guy had powerful legs/core that led him to the puck and have an uncanny release resulting in 413 goals and 992 points. Hope someone signs him and he can hit the century mark.

Iron man..never hurt.

When he was on the Spitten Chiclets podcast Phil said he doesn't like hot dogs, and it was the photographer who put them in the cup not him.

Phil did the 'natural immunity' strategy. He's become so accustomed to feeling like shit, it just is normal for him. So when someone is not feeling too well and sit out that game, Phil is like 'bro you only threw up 3 times before this game, you a pussy?'

Toob Steaks - Philly Kessel

A team needs to sign Iron Man! He needs 1000 points.

1k+ games Iron Dragon Kessel!

YOOOO MY GUY

idk about hall of fame career. Ppg player for only 4 seasons, 2 seasons above ppg with 52 in 48 games and 92 in 82 games as his career high. Never reached 40 goals. Not known or his 200 ft game either. The only thing that distinguishes him from a lot of other guys that haven't got in the HoF is his iron man streak and I highly doubt that does it.

Hey, that guy's in my beer league.

How do you like them apples Toronto

Iron Phil Kessel

The Canucks better give him #81. Is all I'm saying. 🤟🦄✨